BEAUMONT, Texas – The Lamar University women's basketball team closes out 2015 as well as the non-conference portion of its schedule when it hosts the Howard Payne University Lady Jackets at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Montagne Center.
 
LU (3-7) has been idle since a 91-57 loss at No. 23 Missouri on Dec. 20. The Cardinals took six days off for the Christmas break, returning to practice on Dec. 27. Howard Payne (3-6) last played on Dec. 18, when it dropped a 63-62 decision at Millsaps.
 
"We had a few days off, and now we're back ready to take care of business," LU coach Robin Harmony said. "Hopefully, we can carry some momentum into the start of conference play."
 
The Cardinals are 3-1 at home this season, outscoring their opponents by an average of 24.5 points per game over those four contests.
 
"We want to defend the nest," Harmony said of playing at the Montagne Center. "We have great fan support, and we love to play in our own building."
 
Senior guard JaMeisha Edwards leads LU in scoring, averaging 16.1 points per game. Edwards is 16^th in the nation in 3-point field goals, averaging 3.1 per game.
 
Freshman guard Chastadie Barrs remains second in the nation in steals, averaging 4.0 thefts per contest. Barrs is third on LU in scoring with an average of 10.3 points per game. She leads LU in rebounding with an average of 6.6 per game. Her 42 assists and 40 steals are team highs.
 
"Our young players keep getting better," Harmony said. "When you start three freshmen and one sophomore who didn't play a lot last year, you're going to have growing pains, but you can see the improvement from game to game."
 
Howard Payne is led by senior guard Danyel Bradley, who averages 19.7 points per game. The Lady Jackets do a good job of maintaining possession of the ball, as they have a turnover margin of +4.6. Howard Payne struggles on the boards, however, as the Lady Jackets are outrebounded by an average of 11.8 per game.
 
Following Wednesday's game, the Cardinals open Southland Conference play at 1 p.m. Saturday with a road game at Nicholls. LU opens the home portion of the Southland Conference slate by hosting New Orleans at 5 p.m. Monday.
 
"Come Saturday, our record is 0-0," Harmony said. "It's a fresh start, and we want to be in the battle for a conference championship."
 
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